Alcohol and other drug abuse is one of the most serious health problems
affecting employers today. The costs are staggering -- more than $100 billion a
year in accidents, lost productivity, and related problems.
For smaller businesses in particular, one serious accident or one troubled
employee can create major problems. The cost of one employee’s alcohol or other
drug abuse can be devastating.
In worksites across the country, employers are looking for practical ways
to address alcohol and other drug abuse. Employers also are concerned about
meeting the health needs of their employees and controlling the costs of health
care and Workers’ Compensation. Most importantly, employers are asking for clear,
simple steps for planning effective drug-free workplace programs.
The Purpose of the Kit
This kit offers guidance, specific strategies, and easy-to-follow steps for
creating a drug-free workplace program or for enhancing an existing one. It
was designed for owners and managers in businesses of all sizes, but especially
smaller businesses. Often, these organizations do not have the resources to
support employee health programs. The kit suggests low-cost approaches for a
health program geared to alcohol and other drug abuse.
This kit should be especially helpful for employers who don’t have much time
to develop a program. They will find what many employers said they need: immediate,
practical answers and easy-to-use materials.
Two kinds of experts contributed to the development of this kit:
Specialists in drug-free workplace policy development, employee assistance
programs (EAPs), and alcohol and other drug abuse prevention.
Business owners and managers -- the people who are on the front line every
day and who have dealt with the problems that come with employee alcohol or
other drug abuse.
The advice and issues addressed in this kit came from employers who already
have successful drug-free workplace programs, as well as from employers who would
like to start one. Line staff and supervisors also contributed to the development
of the kit.
Using the Materials
The following are simple steps for using this kit successfully:
Read all of the information in the kit before deciding about the type of
program that is right for your organization.
Share the materials with others in your organization who can help with
starting the program. Consider including senior managers, department heads,
and employee and union representatives.
Make copies of the materials you plan to distribute. For example, all
senior managers may need copies of the Supervisor’s Materials, and all employees
may benefit from having copies of the Employee Materials.
Think about other help and resources that might be useful. For example, space
is provided on each of the Employee Fact Sheets to add local resources such as
phone numbers of alcohol and other drug treatment programs or counseling services.
Display the enclosed posters and decal in your organization, or give them
to a designated manager or supervisor to post. Space is provided on each poster
to include the phone number for your employee assistance program, if you have one,
or of someone in your company who is designated to assist with health problems.
Any or all of the materials in this kit can be photocopied and distributed to
employees or adapted to meet the specific needs of your organization.
While the kit contains information for creating a comprehensive program, you
may decide that it is better to develop your program in phases over time rather
than trying to accomplish too much at once. The important step is to make the
decision to begin.
You can make a difference. What you do today can make your organization
healthier, safer, and more productive in the future.
This kit was prepared under Contract Number 277-92-2106 by Cygnus
Corporation. Graphics by CSR, Incorporated.
Employer Materials
The Employer Materials provide an overview of the components of an effective program --
from the rationale to the nuts and bolts of implementation. This information can
help you decide what steps to take, the kinds of people to involve, and how to begin. It
is important to keep in mind that there is no one right way to organize a drug-free
workplace program. What’s right is what works for you and your organization.
Employee Materials
Employee education makes a program successful. The Employee Materials include a
series of fact sheets that can be distributed, over time, as part of a continuing
employee education effort. The fact sheets highlight the importance of a
drug-free workplace, the effects of alcohol and other drugs on both job performance
and family, and the health consequences of alcohol and other drug abuse. Employers
can use the fact sheets as paycheck stuffers, memos, home mailings, or as part of
scheduled training sessions. It is important to review these materials carefully
before deciding how to use them.
Supervisor Materials
Supervisors have day-to-day responsibility for monitoring employee
performance. They can be an early warning system for spotting performance problems
that could be due to alcohol and other drug use. Supervisors or managers can
implement the organization’s drug-free workplace policy and make sure troubled
employees find the help they need.
The Supervisor Materials in this kit answer basic questions about drug-free
workplace programs. They clarify the supervisor’s role and responsibilities and
offer suggestions for dealing with difficult situations. Supervisors will find
a commonsense approach to good management. In some organizations the employer
and the supervisor are one and the same. The Supervisor Materials are designed
to assist people in both roles.
Department of Health and Human Services
Public Health Service
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Center for Substance Abuse Prevention
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